Welcome to the July edition of the Self-Realization Fellowship eNewsletter. This month we share inspiring thoughts from Paramahansa Yogananda on the joy that can be found through the divine art of devotional chanting.

Paramahansa Yogananda on the Joy of Devotional Chanting

Sound or vibration is the most powerful force in the universe. Music is a divine art, to be used not only for pleasure but as a path to God-realization.

No matter what inharmonious surrounding you may have, if you meditate, or at least sit in silence for a few minutes every day, and live in harmony with your inner Self, you will always live in heaven and will carry your own portable paradise everywhere.

A song born out of the depths of true devotion to God and continuously chanted, audibly or mentally, until response is consciously received from Him in the form of boundless joy, is a spiritualized song.

Chants should be sung not once but many times, utilizing the cumulative power of repetition, until the singer feels great bliss wafting through the “radio” of his heart. When this joy is felt it is proof that God has answered the singer, and that his devotion has been properly tuned; the broadcasting of his ardor in chanting has been true and deep.

Music that is saturated with soul force is the real universal music, understandable by all hearts.

Devotional chanting leading into periods of meditation is a practice at all Self-Realization Fellowship temples, centers, groups, and circles. To learn more about the power of devotional chanting and to watch two videos of the SRF nuns kirtan group leading participants in chanting at the SRF World Convocation, follow the link below.

Join SRF members and friends at the 2018 Self-Realization Fellowship World Convocation for a week of classes on the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda, spiritual fellowship, meditation, kirtan chanting, and more.

A special Friday evening satsanga with Brother Chidananda, president and spiritual head of Self-Realization Fellowship, will be livestreamed from Convocation. Further details to be announced on our website.

We are pleased to announce that the SRF website now features a Japanese-language edition. Readers can view Japanese content by using the drop-down menu located in the top-right corner of the website. This is the sixth language—following Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, and Italian—into which the SRF website has now been translated.